Automatic and locking device for elevators.



J. P. ODONNELL. AUTOMATIC STOPPING AND LOOKING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

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BY hWATTYS J. P. ODONNELL. AUTOMATIC STOPPING AND LOOKING DEVICE FORELEVATORS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 18, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

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swam co. wnoro-umounmms, WASHINGTON L c UNITED sTArps PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH P. ODONNELL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

AUTOMATIC STOPPING AND LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrri P. ODONNELL, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Stopping andLocking Devices for Elevators, and do declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in automatic stopping and lockingdevices for elevators; and the invention consists in the constructionand combination of parts substantially as shown and described andparticularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a section of a hatch vay andan elevator platform having my improved automatic mechanism mountedthereon. Fig. 2 is a plan of the stopping device enlarged, and Fig. 3 isa plan of the filler employed to close the otherwise open space betweenthe sides of the casing and through which the cable introduced. Fig. 4is a side elevation of the stopping device complete, and Fig. 5 is anend elevation thereof. Fig. 6 is a plan of the lower section of thecasing and the stopping members therein, line 6(3, Fig. 4, and Fig. 7 isa cross section corresponding to line 99, Fig. 8, showing only threemembers however, as will hereinafter fully appear, and Fig. 8 is avertical sectional elevation of the device complete. Fig. 9 is a crosssection of Fig. 8 on line 9-9, showing the jaws closed as in Fig. 6.

The idea of the invention thus disclosed is to provide an elevator witha safety attachment adapted to prevent starting of the elevator from alanding without the knowledge and cooperation of the party in charge ofthe elevator at such landing, thereby overcoming the very seriousobjection in elevators as they are ordinarily operated, and which haveno such locking control. For example, the ordinary elevator, andparticularly a freight elevator, is adapted to be started in eitherdirection by any one at any landing by simply pulling on the cable.Serious accidents are constantly oc curring on this account, becausefreight may Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 18, 1908.

Patented Aug. 3, 1909.

Serial No. 433,388.

and property are put in jeopardy by such defective arrangements, and myinvention is designed to overcome these objections and render suchperilous operations impossible. To these ends the platform A of theelevator is equipped with a safety attachment comprising a post orstandard B fixed thereto and adapted to carry the safety devices at itstop. In this instance a slidable member is mounted within said standardwhich is capable of a limited up and down movement under heavy springpressure by springs 0 both above and below, thus ai'fording a cushionedengagement for the grip with the cable, and avoiding strain when it actsand which is especially noticeable in fast running elevators. The cableengaging mechanism is mounted on this member 0 at its top or anyequivalent arrangement for supporting said mechanism may be used. Saidmechanism comprises a suitable casing D with a threaded socket 2 in itsbottom for suporting member C and a circular vertical opening 3 forcable E. Said casing furthermore is formed in upper and lower parts, ofwhich part (Z is the body and part d the cover, and opening 3 is formedalike through both said parts and flares outwardly in each from thenarrowest point at jaws G, which are located centrally in said casingand reach around opposite sides of opening 3. A filler F occupies theopen space between the sides of both parts of said casing, and whichis'removable for getting the device into working relations with thecable. The casing is further provided with a suitable recess or spacebetween the sections for engaging members or jaws G, which have shankspivoted respectively at their extremities 8 and constructed to closeupon the cable from opposite sides as shown. Spring 9 tends to hold saidjaws in closed relation, and they can be spread only by the deliberateaction of the operator. Various means might be suggested to accomplishthis purpose, but I prefer asliding spreader H, mounted in the casingand having a substantially wedge shaped portion 72. on its bottomadapted to enter between the shanks of said jaws and spread the same inWedge fashion. To this end said jaws have two substantially ellipticalor equivalent spaces a" and y between them, and when head or wedge 71.is in space 00 the jaws stand closed, but when drawn outward into space51 nearer pivots 8 the jaws are spread, and held open.

Any construction of the edges of said jaws that will enable this to bedone by the spreader may be employed, and the spreader is operated bymeans of stem or arm 10. When the spreader is drawn outward and the awsare thrown wide open the elevator is free to be run up and down withoutinterruption by this mechanism.

E represents the usual operating cable on which are a pair of spacedknobs or balls 15 and 16 corresponding to the respective landings L.Said balls are semi-spherical with their flat sides opposite each otherand spaced apart sutticiently to allow the jaws to engage the cablebetween them when otherwise closed and thus bring the elevator to astandstill automatically, and this occurs traveling either way. Byshaping the said balls as shown the first one will pass with its roundedside through the jaws, but the next one will come to the jaws with itsflat side and engage the same. Now, having effected stoppage of theelevator automatically in this way, the pause can be indefinitelyprotracted 'and the parts locked against possible starting by any one atany part of the cable other than upon the platform and by the personhaving the controlling key, and for this purpose I employ a rotatablelocking barrel J. Said barrel or lock is located transversely in thelower member (Z of the casing and is adapted to be given a quarter turnby means of a suitable key to be applied by the operator and kept byhim. The jaws G rest normally on this barrel at about their middle, andare free to slide laterally thereon at one portion thereof to wide openposition. But to lock said jaws on the cable against being opened and toprevent operation of the cable I have recessed one side of the barrel asufiicient depth to form shoulders 21 at the ends of the recess or scarf20 adapted to engage against the outer edges of the said jaws andprevent their being spread while the barrel retains this position, Fig.8. Finger 22, Fig.

9, limits the rotation of the barrel to either position.

What I claim is:

1. A safety attachment for elevators consisting of a two-part casinghaving oppositely flared openings and an elevator cable in said opening,a pair of jaws adapted to engage about said cable, a slidable spreaderbetween the shanks of said jaws constructed to open the same and alocking device adapted to directly engage and lock the said aws.

2. A safety attachment for elevators comprising a suitable casing havinga passage and acable therein, a pair of jaws adapted to close upon saidcable and a rotatable lock constructed to engage the sides of said jawsand hold them in locked position.

3. In cable operating and locking devices for elevator cables, engagingmechanism for the cable comprising a pair of pivoted jaws, and means toopen said jaws consisting of a slidable spreader mounted in said casingabove said jaws and having a tapered portion engaged between said jaws,and a rotatable member having shoulders adapted to engage the jaws tolock the same in closed position.

4. A safety device for elevator cables comprising a separable casing anda pair of awe pivoted at one end in the same, in combination with aspreader between the jaws having an operating stem slidably mounted onthe meeting lines of said casing and having a wedge shaped spreadingportion engaging said jaws, said casing having an opening for a cableand being spaced apart at its front and a removable filler piece withinsaid spaced front opposite said cable opening.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

J OSEPH P. ODONNELL.

lVitnesses R. B. MosnR, F. C. MUssUN.

